Final Fantasy and Romance

June 9, 2007, 3:54 AM

Keep in mind I've only ever played the 3D FF's so I have no idea about romance in the older titles.

Anyways to the point, romance in FF seems to have grown from next to nothing in VII (remember the ambiguity) to a developed sort of romantic tale in IX and especially VIII, it even results in a sequel for X, X-2.

Question is, or point of discussion being, how much do you think does romance affect the gameplay of any particular game of the series?

I'll post my opinions later, after I've some other posts.

But to start off with, I thought IX was perfect, not milked too much, yet made an interesting complement to the main plot.

My Character Profiles · June 9, 2007, 7:08 AM

I think sometimes, Romance gets in the way of the general story line, and in some cases, it ruins the plot...
FFIX for example was a genuinely great romance story. Zidane was a flirt, yes, but he knew his boundaries. The game revolved around their romance, but it still stayed on track...Zidane and Garnet surely had feelings for one another, but they didn't chase after one another during the important parts of the game.

Squall and Rinoa on the other hand...they chased after each other throughout the entire game...
As soon as Rinoa joined the plot, she was all over Squall...trying to hit on him, pushing him into going on dates with her...sitting in his lap...
Squall even went out of his way during what was supposed to be an important mission...just to rescue Rinoa from the sorceress' memorial, which...just seconds prior...he decided was the best desicion for the rest of the world...
Seems like he cared more about Rinoa than he did for the world.
Idk...that love story was just too...immature.

I loved Zidane and Garnet's love story because it wasn't too childish.

June 9, 2007, 9:24 AM

I would also like to add that your entire party in FFVIII were trying to hook the 2 up. Zell takes Squall's ring and then gives it to Rinoa without asking him. Also, Squall has to look after the whole of Balamb Garden but the party force him into rescuing Rinoa. Even Rinoa after that scene mentions it then Squall puts her in her place by saying:

Rinoa: So that's what you call it. You know Zell said he'll make me one
exactly like it. Who knows, maybe I can become like a lion, too. That'd
be crazy, huh!? I mean, everyone might, y'know, get the wrong idea
about us.
Squall: (If it's so crazy, why do you sound so delighted?) (Everyone is
trying to get us together.) (It's so obvious even I can tell.) You
sound like you want everyone to get the wrong idea.

Not only is Rinoa forcing Squall but the rest of the party are.

June 9, 2007, 4:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warbourne

Anyways to the point, romance in FF seems to have grown from next to nothing in VII

There is romance in FFVII, you just need to know where to look, and it all depends on your perspective of the whole LT. but whats great about FFVII is that the romance is just there and isn't really a main focus on it, the only important focus on it is Aeriths death when cloud goes "what about us?" "what are we supposed to do?" and depending on your LT view then its either romantic or not.

I think the game with the perfect balance of Romance and storyline is FFVI, between Celes and locke, its only their for short bursts of the storyline and isn't really focused on that much, but still develops the storyline and the characters.

I hate FFVIIIs stroyline when it all revolves around Squall and Rinoa, for the same reasons as the rest of you have listed. Horrible.

June 9, 2007, 4:44 PM

Every movie has a love story. (Except ffxii) I don't know why but that is my very short opinion

June 9, 2007, 4:50 PM

FFXII isn't the only one. Some of the pre FFVII didn't have a love story.

June 9, 2007, 4:55 PM

I know but still. You can imagine that the world is a very long movie. Most of the ppl I know had a love story

That is where you come in....

June 9, 2007, 4:55 PM

He's right, FFI II III and V didn't have a love story. and they're very good games.

FFIV FVI FVII FFVIII FFIX FFX all had love stories and they're the ones which are considered to be more popular than the others.

FFXII has a hint of a love story right at the end, when Ashe is screaming for Balthier, and the whole Penelo and Vaan thing.

Hopefully they'll be explored in FFXII:RW

June 9, 2007, 7:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerith Gainsborough

There is romance in FFVII, you just need to know where to look, and it all depends on your perspective of the whole LT. but whats great about FFVII is that the romance is just there and isn't really a main focus on it, the only important focus on it is Aeriths death when cloud goes "what about us?" "what are we supposed to do?" and depending on your LT view then its either romantic or not.

I suppose that's what I trying to say, I mean there definitely is, especially in the Gold Saucer part, but compared to the rest of the series, like you said, it wasn't a focal point or one of the main points of the game. Unlike in the other titles where it just seems too forced.
Hope that makes sense.

But yeah, you guys, I think they just overdid the whole romance thing in VIII, one of the reasons why I didn't like it as much as the other titles.
That got in the way of my viewing the whole plot as it was incredibly annoying...the whole 'chasing around' thing.